Legislative

Legislative Priorities

2026 Federal Legislative Priorities

IPAA encourages increasing spending levels through an annual and timely appropriations process for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), Essential Air Service, Contract Tower Program, and other programs that provide for the safe operation, development, and maintenance of facilities at airports around the country. 

1.    IPAA requests Congress take immediate action to address the aviation workforce shortage through multiple programs and initiatives.

 Aviation workforce shortages are creating a strain felt across the industry and is being felt most by the smaller communities who are struggling to maintain their basic level service or have lost their scheduled air service altogether.

  • Appropriate funds toward Aviation Workforce identified in the FAA Reauthorization Act 2024: Aviation Workforce Development Programs, Airport Service Workforce Analysis

2.    IPAA requests Congress pass the following legislation related to airports’ past FAA Mandated use of PFOS and PFAS in Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) 

  • Appropriate the $350 million authorized by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 towards a PFAS Replacement Grant Program 

  • Pass Legislation that exempts airports from enforcement actions under the CERCLA or other State and Local environmental laws related to the use of PFOA/PFAS. 

3.    IPAA requests Congress require TSA retain the roles the agency was created to execute following 9/11, instead of placing that unfunded burden mandate on airports. 

One of TSA’s founding purposes was to provide consistent security screening across the National Airspace System (NAS), and now critical security screening tasks are being placed back into the antiquated pre-9/11 processes and programs. 

  •  IPAA supports the ongoing need for Airport Worker Screening and that it continue to be the responsibility of TSA to complete security screenings. 

 

2026 State Legislative Priorities

1.    Airport Funding Source Update

Infrastructure needs at Iowa’s general aviation and commercial service airports remain high. The IPAA is advocating for legislative efforts to update the sources of funding for the Airport Improvement Program to include use taxes collected on aircraft sales. This would add to aircraft registration fees and aviation fuel taxes already directed to the program and helps close the gap on needed airport projects that help support Iowa’s economy. 

Request: Beginning with the 2027 fiscal year, use tax on aircraft sales revenue be deposited in the State Aviation Fund that funds aviation safety, planning and development projects. 

      328.56 State Aviation Fund

A state aviation fund is created under the authority of the department. The fund shall consist of moneys deposited in the fund pursuant to sections 328.36, 423.5 and 452A.82 and other moneys appropriated to the fund. 

Moneys in the state aviation fund are appropriated to the department of transportation for use by the department for airport engineering studies, construction or improvements, and the windsock program for public airports and marketing at commercial service airports. In awarding moneys, the department shall give preference to projects that demonstrate a collaborative effort between airports. 

328.36 Deposit and Use of Revenues

All moneys received by the department pursuant to sections 328.21, 423.5 and 328.29 and shall be deposited into the state aviation fund created in section 328.56.